Among Friends

[qualitygal]

@FuzzyFace, ok time for a talk here.  As I see it it is time for you to invest in one of those horns you can attach to your belt like Clarabell the clown use to use.  Before each step, honk the horn until everything in your path has cleared out.   Next, you need to be padding yourself so you look like the Pillsbury doughboy.  Good grief woman, you are an accident that keeps repeating.  Please be careful!!!!   I keep picturing you in bed like the Bible salesman in that Goldie Hawn movie.  This is happening a lot.  

[shoekitty]

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@occasionalrain wrote:

One of my former Siamese cats liked to run ahead of me as I desended the stairs and spread his body out on the next step, daring me to step on him. Didn't happen but he never gave up. 

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Shoekitty said

this is my Sushi.  Down the stairs, up the stairs, he is a foot ahead of me laying in front of my feet.  I think he took out an insurance policy on me. 

[hckynut]

@FuzzyFace

Sounds like you outta add BooBoo to your name. I understand completely your dangers, even with our now low number of only 6 indoor felines, and Lily our canine. All like to cross our path or walk lock-step in front of us, yes, also going down stairs.

Glad you came up with only a few bruises and no broken bones or torn Patella or ACL. Anyone that is, or has been owned by Indoor Only Felines, knows the 2-step dance and looking at floor most of the time. If not, they is livin dangerously. Gotta be on guard for those added feet to your anatomy.

Not long ago, one of our felines, Jasper, bit me when we were putting Flea/Tick Protection on him. Didn't think much of it except, "oww, that hurt like he!!".

Had I not seen my doctor the next day, it really might have killed me. Immediately sent to ER where they got IV ANTIBIOTICS Running into me. Spent 7 days in hospital with several different IV Antibiotics running into me.

Left hand swollen so bad I could not use to for close to 2 months, needless to say, it too "hurt like he!!". Was Cellulitis/which would have become Sepsis or lead to MRSA!  Took my body months to regain any strength.

Jasper?  He missed me during my hospital stay and extra cuddles on my return home, so I pass it off as being my fault, isn't that what us feline lovers do? He is right now sleeping soundly on my lap as we share our love for each other.

Felines will be felines, but beware of those with certain types of bacteria in their mouths, it could very well be deadly if the one owned, does not seek immediate medical help!

Love ya Jaspy!

hckynut(john)

[hckynut]

@Luvtuna

You mention 9 lives to @FuzzyFace.  Few of our over 30 felines have reached that mythical number, but several have made it through many illnesses. We have had many with us into the middle and upper teens, 1 till he was 20. 

Me on the other hand? I am presently on what I consider to be my 8th life following 7 health issues that kill many humans daily. Somehow, and for some reason, I am still among the living. Lucky? Partly, but aware more than anything else.

I can tell you are certainly a feline lover and they are always great and nice people. Thought I would tell you about my true 8 life story, kinda a reversal of that myth.

Best to you, and watch those felines!

hckynut(john)

[Spurt]

@FuzzyFace

I can understand what you are going through.....My 2 cats dont do that criss crossing and in between the legs. But there is a feral cat in our neighborhood that we all feed, and when she sees me headed out to our community mailbox area....she follows me and does that criss crossing and in between my legs and sometimes its a near miss on tripping me.....I don't want to be rude to the kitty but it just aggravates me....

Here's an explanation:

https://www.thedodo.com/q-why-do-cats-try-to-herd-peop-442885191.html

[hckynut]

Hi @Spurt.

We have had at least 30 feral cats around our homes the last few decades. With those experiences we have come to know that true/full/ferals will let any human get anywhere close to them, much less get within a tripping distance.

Sure, they eat the food and drink the water we make sure they have, but make the slightest sound with a door or talking? They are outta there quicker than a blink of an eye, mine anyways.

We've had outdoor cats that we feed(feral?) that will let you pet them, as long as there is a screen/door or window between themselves and us.

Had one recently that would let us pet her when we were standing or sitting down, but try to pick her up? Forget it, she wouldn't even sit on our legs when we sat on our porch, but she would brush up against them. Even follow me out to our "drive route mailbox", but never put herself in any position for me, or her to trip.

New outdoor felines that visit our home? I put out our Humane Trap to catch them. I then take them to our vet, or Humane Society, and have them spayed or neutered. We've adopted out way too many during our 18 years here in our home, and do everything we feel necessary to keep from raising more little kittens, outside our home.

A couple I trapped were already "fixed", why? Beats me unless they belonged to someone that still believes in "cats are meant to roam", or went to someone's home that follows what I do with new cats that show up regularly to eat our food put out for them.

Long story, but hey! We love felines, inside and outside.

hckynut(john)

[AuntG]

Sounds painful. I've tripped over my share of cats, but with my bad balance, I definitely could no longer have a pet.

[Spurt]

@hckynut

You are right most ferals wont let you get near them....they will come for food/water but you cant touch or interact with them.  

But there are exceptions.....there is a cat we call the "community cat" her mother was a feral and was wild, but this kitten got to know the community and is very sociable---you can pet her, hold her,  and if its cold or raining she became friendly with me, so she comes in, stays awhile then cries to go out......(she has been spayed, shots, and I give her flea treatments too, but she doesnt like to stay inside so I cant officially adopt her, she's set in her ways....and she doesnt like my 2 cats)........

Our COA did work with the Feral Cat Coalition in our city at one time, the Feral Cat Coalition trapped, spayed/neutered and brought them back---our community cat was one of them, and these are identified with the notch in the ear.........

Something went amiss recently all of a sudden these strange cats started showing up.....I have a feeling that a nearby apartment complex (known for having lots of cats on their property)....rounded up some of their's and dumped them in our neighborhood....So perhaps some of these cats were pets at one time and left behind when tenants moved and perhaps thats why that gray cat is friendly and tries to trip me....But the rest are pretty spooked and wont let you pet them...........

The COA has contacted animal agencies and no kill shelters but they are all full (its kitten season) so they wont take these "new neighbors".....and the COA doesnt want to deal with the Feral Cat Coalition again---I dont know why---because it looks like one of the cats is pregnant so the situation is going to get worse.........

All we get from the COA is threatening letters reminding us of the Bylaws and regulations regarding animals/pets and telling us NOT to feed the stray cats and anyone caught feeding them will be fined in accordance with the Bylaws, even though our city has a Feral Cat Program of spay and release and someone could volunteer to take the lead, but the COA says the Bylaws supercede that law, and there's also a city ordinance limiting the number of cats/dogs one can have, so they won't let someone sign the City Feral Agreement that says you will be responsible for feeding and care of the Feral Cats when they trap, neuter, and return....So we are between a rock and a hardplace....  me and a few others give them food/water despite the COA's threats......... 

A couple of the more friendly ones...a beautifuly one---looked like a Himalayian mix (probably left behind when someone moved away) was taken in by a neighbor, as was one of the other cats......

I think part of it is retaliation from the dog owners because people have been complaining about people not picking up after their dogs, even though there is a designated area with bags to pick up the waste ....the owners think nothing of watching their dogs do their thing near your sidewalk or lawn.  I asked a women nicely could please pick up after her dog....and she told me she was going to report ME for harrassment.....I didnt say a thing but did report HER because Im tired of cleaning up after other peoples dogs....But I think the newer members of the COA are pro-dog and anti-cat........

Thank you for letting me vent...........